Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-26
The nest feature Of the DIM week. thus far. was

a. nil the other daily papers here added
together.
The pest feature of the drill week, thus far, was
yeSteuiavs parade. Taking the column az q
whole. the marching Was not by any means the
best That Washington mas witnessed but 1t was
ereditabIe enough to call forth liberal applause
from the spectators II impressed every one who
witnessed IL, probably, with sense OF the infe-
rfority OF the company front to the platoon for
sDldiery, businessiike appearance. The company
front, which, rs a matter of military etiquette
had 10 be preserved while passing the reviewing
stand. was soon thereafter broken by the bulk Of
the procession. It Is perhaps, the most effective
style IN a mere holiday show, and affords the Sc
vcrest test Of drill and discipline but it requires
The greatest perfection in marching to make 1T
anything but painful TO the eye; and. even with
the best marching, 1t has air OF playing soldier
rather than of effective work The platoon order,
or the other hand. masses the troops and gives
the column an apparent solidity and strength
which are very pleasing TO the practical sense. 1t
has the further advantage OF concealing thou
sand trifiing Inaccuracies which would spoil the
whole display in a company front.
IL Is a pity that yesterdays pleasure should
have been marred by i,l-feelng on the color cues
ton. In the armies OF England and France the
culoret troops have done admirable work, and re-
ccive cordial recognition not only from rulers and
people but from their white comrades in arms. In
our OWL army, during the civil war and afterward
on the plains. they have made good soldiers. They
have ascertafned status in the'milita OF all, or
nearly ALL the states IL the United States were
Ia become involved in hoStiities with any other
alton tc-iaorrow, the two races would be called
upon 20 bear their Proportfonate shares Of risks
and harsbips in the field ami OF financial burdens
at home. Under all these circumstances IL Is TO
b. regretted that the white citizen soldiery from
any part OF the country should feel themselves
degraded by marching through the streets OF the
national capital in the same procession and under
The same nag with their cOored feilOwmilitiaEen.
the s0ftening hand Of time win probably modify
this prejudice, ard some future generation Of
Southrons, porting over Old newspapers files and
reading the record OF the National Drill OF 1887,
will wonder what else than IN unaccountable pet
t!shnesS induced their Srandsires to drop out Of
line at the review.
IL marching along the avenue half square
from a cut-throat. rowdy, swindler in uniform,
puts one upon an equality with him, the serious
hess or the situation at once becomes apparent and
the necessity OF resort TO detective agencies by
sensitive militiamen who desire TO avoid degrada-
ton from certain moral and social status also
becomes clear. For il Is not impossible that
among the thousands OF volunteer soldiers In camp
few black sheep, black inwardly. though not
necessarily in skin, may be discoveries: and to be
dragged 10 the level OF moral degradation mus; be
at least aOhorrent as 20 be lade equal to those
whose sole ofenSe is In the color OF their
s&in. The opinion still prevails to some extent
however, that legal and military equality, and
physical proximity on public street, do not es-
rablish moral and social equality, and that any
reasonably wen-ballnced militiamaE win be t0ier-
ably safe on parade though modern Dick Turpin
o. man Of any or all cOlOrS OF the rainbow
marches lHSs than half square away. In short
most Americans believe that while every man has
q
iltimate friends those whom he win i've eat and
sleep WITH and who Will give color 10 his thoughts
and direction 20 his actions yet he should not
publicly tu' up his nose at the rest of the world
and that he Lay J0atle against those whom he
Considers socially and morally degr ded in street
Cars ard on the streets, and may even shake
.nd5 with such persons il the course OF business
as President OF the nation, without suffering
personal ,iegra 1aton. IL follows that militia
mar may par@1e without fear near colored COM
pIny, though i b. impossible to convince him
that there Is any criIninality SO base socially
q ,grad!ng, a tlac kne55 0: Skin.
Paris. with her elaborate police and IRE systems
aad her strict bU!liin5 laws Is the scene o, the
1Itesf terrible disaster by the burning Of crowded
theater. To the coO.neSS OF the audience who
ooeyed an appeal from the manager and DELAYED
their rush for the street until the several avenues
Of exit could be opened Is largely due their escape
gas Was turned OF before ali the people were out
OF the bC:ding. AMI the only evidence that some
unfortunates were not left TO perish in the upper
tiers Comes from the men who carried out the
money Chest, on the ground floor, and who say
tnlt, as far as they could see, the auditory was
deserted.
The iron curtain. which gave rise 10 so much
discussion durfag the revision OF the fre-defence
ordinances IN seYeraI OF the large cities ilnmedi-
aJely after the Brooklyn disaster eleven years
ago, was brought effectively into play last night
at the opera C0miIue- II Gid not save the build
ing prevent fatalities. but IL held the flames In
check for while and did good deal to mitigate
the pers Of the situation. In brict IL established
It's claim 10 place among the necessaries OF every
properly equipped place or amusement. With a
brick proseenium and an iron curtain, fire which
breaks out on the stage may not actually be- con-
hned 10 that quarter OF the house, but II can at
least De Kept from spreading 50 rapidly to make
The escape OF the audience impossible.
This fire adds another warning As 20 the fmpera-
tive need for compelling all places OF amusement
10 provide ample exits lor audiences
BY the death OF Nj. ii. J. Ranlsdell which
occurred in this city last evening" the profession
OF Journalism, and, more particularly speaking
the gund OF Washington correspondents, loses
conspicuous and brilliant member. Naturally
keen and bright, careful observer, Intimately
acquainted with public men and affairs aud gifted
with graceful and entertaining literary style he
was well and favorably known 10 the newspaper
readers OF the country, whom he had addressed
with greater or less frequency from this city for
period OF more than twenty years, while by his
genial disposition In company and his warm SYM
pathetic nature he crew about him q large circle
Oi devoted personal friends. Mr. RamSdelrS
Capacity and disposition FOR work were impaired
soLnewhac by severe accident which befel him
some years ago, causing other complications from
which he suffered up 20 the tine OF his death and
Tor some time past his connection with the press
was not as c.ose a. formerly The mark LEFT by
his hfe-work Is therefore at as distinct and
enduring as II should have been and less so, too
than IL probably would have been under more
favorable circumstances, and with longer lease
az liie- As IL Is, The summons came 10 him in
what Is In ordinary cases the very prime OF lie
aud power, leaving nany bright hopes unrealized
and just ambitious unattained.
The deceased left wife, son and daughter
who have the high regard and deep sympathy Of
al who know them.
Mr. UBrsea having cancelled al engagement to
leisure In Philadelphia OF the I'd OF j me the dis
appointed Irish patriots il that city are looking